CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow. Photo: Nation News

This increase in prize money and bonuses is for teams competing in the CG United Super50 Cup as well as other regional competitions. This increase extends to all senior men’s and women’s tournaments. The champions of the 2024 West Indies Championship (the regional red ball four-day First Class competition) will win $250 000, with the finalists getting US $100 000.

The announcement came during a press conference held in the Flamengo Room at the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre with President of CWI Dr Kishore Shallow and Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe present.

The eight teams competing in the region’s flagship List A tournament, which begins on Tuesday, October 17, will have the added incentive of a winning prize of US $100 000 as well as the Sir Clive Lloyd trophy if they win the final on November 11 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The losing finalists will receive US$50 000 and the team who tops the points table in the league phase also gets US$50 000 which is the biggest prize money in the history of the competition.

Shallow said: “The aim is to incentivise our cricketers which will ultimately result in more intense and competitive cricket. We expect this, along with other developmental programmes, will help to close the gap between international cricket and our regional tournaments. These new prize monies represent a significant increase in the reward purse for teams in regional cricket. We firmly believe this will act as a fillip to players’ performances and their pursuit of excellence. This is part of our investment in the game and those who fly the flag on the field.”

The winners of the Women’s CG United Super50 Cup and the T2o Blaze will see an increase in their prize money as well. There’s a US$ 2000 reward for the next year’s 50 over winners with a minimum increase of US$1000 annually over the next four-year cycle. The runners-up will receive half these amounts.

T20 Blaze winners will also be rewarded with an increase US $10,000 for the winners next year – with further increases annually for the upcoming four years. The runners-up will also receive half those amounts.

CWI is also finalizing a new four-year Memorandum of Understanding with the West Indies Players Association which will see further increases for individual players including a major boost to women’s remuneration.